Oliseh to Recall Obafemi Martins

Seattle Sounders forward and Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins, is on course to be recalled to the Super Eagles for next month’s 2018 preliminary World Cup qualifier against Djibouti or Swaziland two years after he last featured for the national team.

Martins, who has been in blistering form for his Major League Soccer (MLS) side in the USA, is being seen as a catalyst that could offer stiff competition to Odion Ighalo and Emmanuel Emenike, who are both expected to be included in coach Sunday Oliseh’s squad for the November tie, a top source in the NFF revealed.

According to the source, the Eagles attack has not impressed the head coach by scoring 5 goals in 4 games.

And despite preferring Ighalo to Emenike, Oliseh needs a good option with wealth of national team experience to rival the Watford star who has scored 5 goals in eight EPL games for the Hornets, the source says.

“Obviously, Martins is an option we are considering in attack and he could make a return to the team but the coach has the final say on that,”

“Emenike has not showed the handlers he could be relied on in the games he has played.”

“The coach wants his forwards to be aggressive and press high up but that has not been the case.”

The former Inter Milan star has scored 14 MLS goals in 19 appearances for Sounders who sit fifth on the Western Conference log.

Martin reportedly called it quit with the Super Eagles last year, but the report has since been denied by his representatives who insist the former Levante star was quoted out of context.